“Good eggs, honey. Thank you.”
“Anytime,” I tell him and mean it. I love to cook but especially for Beau because he loves to eat and shows his appreciation. He also would never expect me to cook for him, he’s always helping in the kitchen any way he can, which makes cooking for him that much more fun.
“Ready to explain Noosma to me?”
“What all did he tell you?”
He goes on to explain that he pretty much knows everything after he went to Richard’s house yesterday.
“Why didn’t you tell me about him?”
I shrug. “Honestly, I don’t know. It felt more sacred to keep our friendship to ourselves. He was someone I’d grown to love and trust more than anyone else and having him to confide in was special. I liked what we had and didn’t want it to change.”
He nods and sits back in his chair, lifting his coffee to his lips. “I get that. He’s quite fond of you.”
“Feeling’s mutual.”
“Zoey loves him. Calls him Pop. Like he’s a grandpa.”
“He is a grandpa to her in every sense of the word.”
“I got that. Have you met his son?”
“Couple of times, yeah. Noah. Nice guy. He’s married and they have two boys. The boys are kind of jerks, though. They hate it here, turn their noses up every time they come to the farm and spend any amount of time there. Complain the entire time about the old house and nothing being new. How Richard doesn’t have WiFi, which he doesn’t need. Zoey tries to get them to play with her and they won’t have it.”
“For real?”
I take a sip of my own coffee, draining the last of the cup. “Yeah. Noah seems embarrassed by it. Always says they’re not that way when they’re home. I believe it. Some kids just prefer the city life over small town. Doesn’t make them bad kids.”
“It does if they treat Zoey or you, or hell, even Richard, like shit because they think they’re better.”
“It’s not really that,” I try to explain. “It’s just they don’t find enjoyment in getting their hands dirty and don’t like the animals. Last time they visited, Zoey and I came for dinner and they weren’t as snippy toward us. I’m pretty sure Noah had a talk with them about it.”
“What’s his wife like?”
“I’ve never met her. She’s from New York City and for her, Seattle is tiny and doesn’t come here very often.”
“Wow. Guess that explains why Noah didn’t want to live there.”
“Yeah.” I pause. “How did it end up that you bought his place?”
“He called me up. Had no idea why until a few days ago. We finalized everything and I asked him again if he was okay with selling, if his son was okay with it. The house has been in his family for a lot of years and I wasn’t sure what to think. Then he said something that didn’t make sense at the time but now it does.”
“What’s that?”
“He told me he wants me to keep the house a home. And that if I bring her here, that’ll make it a home.”
“Huh?”
He chuckles and finishes his coffee, grabs my cup, and opens the patio door. “Want another?”
“Yeah.”
He takes our cups inside and leaves the door open so he can keep talking while he brews us each another cup. “So he says this and I’m like ‘what the hell are you going on about, old man?’ and he was basically saying that I would figure it out eventually.”
I stand and rest a shoulder against the door frame and watch as he makes our second cups. “And did you? Figure it out, I mean?”
He doctors up mine while his is brewing and hands me the steaming cup.
“Yeah. I did.” His cup finishes the brew cycle and we make our way back onto the porch, once again taking our seats. “It’s you. You’re what makes a house a home. And Zoey.”
I stare, dumbfounded. “What?”
“You heard me. The two of you are what’s going to make that house a home. Then I realized his reason for contacting me.”
“When you first told me you were looking at Richard’s place, I was upset,” I admit. “I felt betrayed by someone I considered family. For him not to tell me that he was ready to sell, and then contact you, I couldn’t figure out his angle.”
“You’re family to him. That’s why he wanted me to buy it. To bring you there, make it a home, keep it in the family.”
“I’m gonna cry.”
“Don’t cry. Even though I’m pretty sure they’re happy tears, I don’t want you to shed a tear over it and neither would Richard.”
I sniff and swallow down my emotion.
“That’s really sweet.”
“He loves you.”
“I love him, too.”
“He knew about me.”
“Yeah, he did. We’re close. He was like a dad to my mother. Or, maybe more like a big brother. I don’t know. Richard has been there for us through some of the roughest times. After I found out I was pregnant, I went to his house and cried on his shoulder. I felt so guilty for using Chris. I hated some of the thoughts that I had. I was so sad because of Mom. It was bubbling over the surface and I couldn’t keep it down. He listened.”
“What thoughts?”
Of course he would latch on to the one thing I really would have preferred I keep to myself. “I’ve loved you since I was fourteen, Beau.”
“What?” he whispers.
I shrug, a little embarrassed. “I’ve always been yours. You just didn’t realize it.”
“There’s one thing you always had that he wanted. Even if you didn’t know you had it, it’s been yours all along. That’s what you said to me that night we found Lizzy and Tyson together. I was confused by it then, but you meant you, didn’t you?”
“Yes. Tyson knew my heart was gone for you. I tried so hard to gain it back but I never could. Then I got drunk, slept with Chris, got pregnant, and you left.”
“Because I’d realized I was in love with you right before that and wanted you for myself. I also knew that Chris was in love with you, or at least he thought he was. I don’t think he felt the same kind of love that I feel for you, or he wouldn’t have been able to give up until he had you.”
“This is a lot to take in,” I tell him.
“Sure is. So you’re telling me your thoughts…”
“Were about wishing you were the dad instead of Chris. Screwed with my head a little bit.”
“That’s why I left, too. I was jealous as fuck. Couldn’t stand the fact that you were carrying someone else’s baby, especially my brother’s. Then I realized I needed you in my life more than I needed to hang on to my pride.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“Me, too.”
We sit quietly for a few minutes, listening to birds chirp and the occasional car traveling past my house. I live on a fairly quiet street, but that doesn’t mean I never hear any sort of traffic.
“You’ve loved me since you were fourteen?”
I bite my lip and feel my cheeks heat. “I know. You’re probably a little scared of me at this point.”
“Scared of you? Hardly. I feel like a dumbass that I never realized it.”
I shrug. “I wasn’t on your radar.”
“Because I was a dumbass. Most beautiful girl in our school. In the town.”
“Life is how it’s supposed to be,” I say quietly. “As hard as it was at the time, I’m glad Chris is Zoey’s father. He left this world leaving behind a part of him and every time I look at her, I see glimpses of him. I might not have been in love with him, but I don’t regret being with him.”
He leans his head back against the chair. “I have a confession.”
“Oh, boy.”
He shoots me a grin. “It’s not a bad one. Well, it kind of is but not entirely. He and I got into a fight the night after you told me you were pregnant. My dad and Max had to break us apart.”
I gasp. “Beau!”
He holds up a hand. “I know. I know. It wasn’t my place, but I was just
so pissed. You told me he didn’t take advantage of you, but I couldn’t convince myself otherwise. He knew what he was doing that night. But he reminded me that you did, also. It sucked to hear and it only fueled my rage, but Dad reminded me it wasn’t rage. It was just plain old fashioned jealousy. I hated that he had that with you and I knew then that you’d be connected forever. But now, I’m glad. You’re right. He’s not with us, and that sucks more than I can put into words, but we have Zoey and there’s nothing bad about that.”
I stand up and move to sit sideways on his lap, placing our cups on the table. “You met Richard. You bought a house. You bought a business. You’re stepping in just like you’ve always stepped in. Zoey’s getting her confidence back because you’re present and here in a way that makes her feel safe and loved. Everything you’ve done your entire life, you’ve done for me and Zoey.”
Moisture collects in his eyes.
“Addy…”
“Listen to me when I say this and I’m going to get gushy again but I don’t care. It’s our time. You’ve always been there for me, Beau Aikin. Always. Even when you left me for a little bit to lick your wounds, you were still there for me and I knew it. Now is the time for me to be there for you. To help you get over the guilt that you feel over being with me because Chris isn’t.”
“I’m not…” he starts to protest but I shush him with my fingers to his lips. Which he licks. I roll my eyes and don’t let it deter me.
“You are. I see it in your eyes. But if he were alive, I’d still choose you. I choose you, Beau.”
“I want to fuck you again,” he growls.
“I don’t have a lot else on my agenda today so I think we can pencil it in,” I say, joking.
Then it hits me that it’s a Thursday morning and we both should have been working today.
“Holy shit!” I say, standing up quickly. “We have jobs!”
He bursts out laughing. “I talked to Lindley already and she’s covering the shop for you today. I had plans.”
“Beau!”
“What?” he asks, completely unashamed. “I told you I had plans and didn’t want anything to disrupt them. And let’s be honest. You needed last night just as much as I did. My crew here is one I’ve worked with for a million other jobs so they know what to do.” He tugs on my hand so I’m sitting on his lap again. “We have the entire day to ourselves.”
I thread my fingers through his hair and lean down to kiss him. “Mmm,” I hum. “What sort of things should we do to occupy our time?”
“I’ve got a few ideas.”
“So do I.”
“Care to see if our ideas are the same?”
Rather than answer, I get up and walk into the house. He trails behind me.
Then we take a nap.
And when we wake up two hours later, we start tackling a few of those ideas.
The best part of the day?
Beau is taking me out on our first date.
He even managed to have flowers delivered to the house before our date. And bonus? He went to the shop yesterday and Lindley helped him arrange it himself. My fingers itched to fix a few of the flowers and rearrange, but I didn’t. Because the gesture was worth having a pale pink carnation included in the mix of otherwise brightly colored gerbera daisies, roses, and tulips.
Two days later he saw me staring at the flowers and laughed.
“I knew you’d hate that carnation but wanted to see what you’d do.”
“You knew?”
“Of course I knew. You only complain about carnations all the time. But I couldn’t resist.”
If possible, I fell in love with him a little more.
The only thing he’s told me is that he reserved an outdoor table at my favorite Italian steakhouse.
And if I have my way, we’ll skip any other plans he may have and come back here before it’s time to get Zoey.
I’ll absolutely get my way.
Chapter Twenty-One
Beau
“Please tell me you didn’t say that to her face,” Addy says, horrified.
“Hey. She’s the one who asked how it was!” Tyson defends himself with his hands in the air but the look on Addy’s face says she doesn’t care.
“You’re a jackass. You were in an elevator!”
“A jackass who women love. And don’t knock elevator sex. It’s hot as fuck. Especially with the risk of getting caught.”
“But you told her you’d had better. I guarantee that’s not exactly what she was hoping you’d say.”
“I can’t help it. I’m an honest guy,” he says, leaning back in his chair, hands now behind his head. “Besides, she wasn’t even offended. She asked for pointers. I helped her out. I’m generous like that. Even let her blow me again.”
She throws a fry at his face. He picks it up off his chest and pops it in his mouth. Addy huffs and tries to glare. It reminds me of when Zoey tries to look mad at us but she’s really just ticked that she’s not getting her own way.
Adorable.
My woman.
It’s been a month since Addy and I got together. A lot has changed in those four weeks. I closed on my old house and my new-to-me old farmhouse. Richard moved into his duplex in town and the auction was held to get rid of all the belongings he no longer wanted or needed. The process of building a shop at my house is underway and Zoey started kindergarten last week.
Addy and Zoey still live in their house, and sleepovers don’t happen as often as I’d like, but we kind of rushed into things and decided that our relationship was important enough that we wanted to take our time and go through the motions.
Date nights.
Phone calls and texts to let each other know we’re thinking of them.
Family meals with Zoey.
Family meals with my entire family.
Including Richard.
Because he’s definitely part of the family now.
“So what else is new?” Addy asks him, taking a sip of her Coke after a big bite of her mushroom swiss burger. Juices drip down her chin and she wipes it away with a napkin. I wish I could have licked them off.
We’re out to dinner at this little bar called The Flying Goat. The food is basic bar food but the atmosphere is awesome. Plus, they have local bands come in on the weekends and it’s a place that isn’t all about the booze. So for Tyson and his sobriety, it’s not a problem. This is the second time we’ve gone out with Tyson and while it’s a tad bit uncomfortable, it’s not entirely.
“Nothing much. Thinking I’ll buy that place with the ugly green kitchen you showed me. I can do most of the work myself.”
I laugh then see the look on his face. “Oh. You’re serious?”
His bright white teeth show when he smiles. “Fuck off, man. Of course I’m serious. How hard can it be?”
Addy presses her lips together to keep from laughing but I do nothing of the sort. “Maybe have a backup plan just in case.”
He chuckles then leans forward, stealing one of Addy’s fries.
Tyson and I are fast eaters while Addy eats slower than anyone I’ve ever met. She always has over half her plate left when mine is empty, or I’m on my second helping.
“Well, I’ve got the time. If I fuck it all up, I’ll hire someone to fix it. I just don’t want to build a house. Everyone’s expecting that and I don’t need it. It’s just me. Why do I need some several thousand square foot home?”
He’s got a point, even if it surprises me.
We talk a little more about his plans for the house, Addy not being able to stay out of that conversation for sure, before the air in the bar changes and suddenly.
“Fuck.” I hear Tyson say lowly. “Do I have a chip in my neck or somethin’?”
I look over to see Lizzy making her way to us. But her eyes aren’t on Tyson. Oh, no. They’re aimed right at me.
“Wha…” Addy says, turning around then, “Ohhhh.”
Before we can stop her, Lizzy’s taking the empty fourth seat at our ta
ble.
“Look at this! Just like old times.”
“Hi, Lizzy,” Addy says. She doesn’t sound at all happy to see her and I smirk.
“Hi, Addy. What are you up to? Just met up with our guys?”
Damn, she’s the most ridiculous person I’ve ever met. How I ever dated her is beyond me. I don’t know what I was thinking.
“Sure. Let’s go with that,” Addy replies and Tyson coughs. “What are you up to?”
“Oh, same old, same old.” She waves her hand in a circle then gestures toward a guy at the bar. “I’m out with that one but,” she sticks a finger into her mouth and makes a gagging sound because apparently she’s twelve years old, “it isn’t working out. I’m glad I found y’all.”
“What makes you say that?” Tyson asks, irritably.
“Because we can hang out! I can ditch him.”
Tyson tries to go gentle. “Nah. Wouldn’t expect you to be rude to your date.”
“Oh, it’s not rude. He’ll understand. Besides,” she glances at me and I work hard not to cringe, “you and I have so much catching up to do. I heard you started your own business! That’s so exciting, Beau. You would be the perfect boss,” she purrs, seduction laced heavily in her tone.
Where Tyson was going gentle, I don’t have the patience. Because she takes it about ten steps too far and places a hand on my arm like I’m hers to touch. I jerk it out of her grip. “You’re not hearing him, Lizzy. He’s good. I’m good. Addy’s good. Addy and I are together, which you know but are pretending not to, and Tyson got sick of your ass years ago. I suggest you go back to that guy while you’re still interesting to him. But listen to me one last time. This whole routine of yours where you think you’re really something and can get any guy you want, whether they’re attached or not, is old. You’re better than that. Or, at least, I hope you are. So move along. Go back to your date, Lizzy.”
“You and Addy are together?”
“Duh!” Addy shouts and I choke on a laugh.
“Uh, why is this surprising?” Tyson asks. “It’s been the two of them since forever.”
“But…”
“Move along, Lizzy.” Addy’s mom voice has come out and it’s here to play, making Tyson and I scoot back in our seats a bit. “I guarantee you knew we were together. You just thought you could weasel your way in. But you’re wrong. Beau’s mine.”
The Path To Us: A Single Parent Romance Page 22